To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her estimate of the expenditure by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on official hospitality for (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1991–92, (v) 1992–93, (vi) 1993–94, (vii) 1994–95, (viii) 1995–96, (ix) 1996–97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997. [15262]

[holding answer 12 November 1997]: Expenditure on hospitality made by the Department for International Development and its agency, the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), for the years requested is as follows:

	DFID	NRI	Total (£s)
1991–92	12,375	4,813	17,188
1992–93	12,203	4,914	17,117
1993–94	12,137	4,914	17,089
1994–95	21,246	2,566	23,812
1995–96	22,742	3,260	26,002
1996–97	24,122	—	24,122
1997 to 30 September 1998	8,827	—	—

NRI was transferred to private ownership in 1996–97.Figures for years prior to 1991–92 cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.